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Early and Regular Decision Applicants

If you're applying for financial aid for the first time, we’re here to help you through the process. After you have completed the Admissions application process, make sure that you file your financial aid forms with their respective processing centers by the priority deadlines listed on this page to ensure that you're given full consideration for all financial aid programs.

If you’re applying Early Decision, you will need to submit your financial aid forms earlier.

Please note that for the 2019-2020 academic year, financial aid eligibility will be based on income information from tax year 2017.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

FAFSA Deadlines
Early Decision: November 1
Regular Decision: January 15

College of the Holy Cross - federal school code: 002141

An official, valid FAFSA is required of all students who intend to apply for federal or institutional financial aid.

Make sure you include Holy Cross' federal school code (002141) on the FAFSA to ensure that we receive your data. It is recommended that you file the FAFSA online, or you may acquire a paper FAFSA by calling 1-800-4-FED-AID and submitting it via mail to the processing agency.

IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT): The IRS DRT will be available to allow you and your parents to upload your filed 2017 federal tax return data directly to your FAFSA. This tool is the best and easiest way to provide accurate income information on the FAFSA.

You and your parents are ineligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool if you:

Filed an amended 2017 federal tax return

Did not file a 2017 federal tax return

Are married but have filed separately

Filed a foreign tax return (including Puerto Rico)

Federal Verification

In the event your FAFSA is randomly selected for Federal Verification, your taxable income must be verified by using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. If you and/or your parents are not eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool when updating your FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education requires our office to collect a Tax Return Transcript processed by the IRS. Please note that parents who are married but file separately must submit two separate IRS transcripts. Transcripts are not required for those filing a foreign or Puerto Rican tax return.

You may request a Tax Return Transcript online, by phone at 1-800-908-9946, or via paper request using the 4506-T. (The Financial Aid Office's address should be included on line 5 of form 4506-T.)

If your parent(s) did not file a federal tax return in 2017, and your FAFSA is selected for Federal Verification, you are required to submit an IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter which you can request from the IRS online just as you request a Tax Return Transcript.

In addition, you are required to submit the 2019-2020 Verification Worksheet. This worksheet must be completed, signed by the student and parent, and submitted along with all other documents to IDOC. Please be advised that your application for financial aid will be considered incomplete until we receive this and all requested documents necessary to complete the verification process.

College Scholarship Service PROFILE (CSS Profile)

This application is required if you wish to be considered for Holy Cross need-based grants and scholarships.

You can begin the online application process by creating a College Board account (if you don't already have one). You may then complete the entire CSS Profile in one sitting, or you may choose to save it and return to it later.

If your parents are separated, divorced, or never married and NOT living together, both of your biological/adoptive parents will complete their own CSS Profile. Each parent will access the CSS Profile with different log-in credentials. The noncustodial parent will need to create a College Board account before providing his/her information. It's highly recommended that the student and custodial parent complete the CSS Profile first, as the noncustodial parent cannot submit information until the student selects a school that requires the submission of noncustodial parent information.

In cases of special circumstances, when you are unable to have the CSS Profile completed by your noncustodial parent, you may submit a NonCustodial Parent Waiver Request Form directly to our office. With your custodial parent, please complete this form to the best of your ability and provide any necessary documentation that will support your request for a waiver. Submitting this request to our office does not automatically guarantee that we have waived the noncustodial parent requirement. You will be notified in writing within one week of receipt of your request if your waiver has been approved.

International Students: Complete the CSS Profile for International Students found on the College Board's website and carefully follow their directions for submission. Holy Cross offers limited funding for international students.

Other Forms and Required Information

Upon completing the CSS Profile, you may be instructed to submit other required information:

2017 Federal Tax Forms

Complete copies of actual federal tax returns (i.e. 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ) including all schedules, W-2 wage statements, all business tax returns (i.e. partnership, s-corporation, corporate), schedules, and K-1s must be submitted for the parent(s) (custodial and noncustodial) and the student to the College Board's Institutional Documentation Service (IDOC) by November 1 for Early Decision applicants and by January 15 for Regular Decision applicants.

You will receive instructions after you have completed the CSS Profile application online on how to submit your documents to IDOC.

If either you and/or your parent(s) do NOT file a federal tax return, you must download, complete, and submit to IDOC a Non-Filer Statement(PDF). In addition, except for dependent students, confirmation of nonfiling from the IRS or other relevant tax authority dated on or after October 1, 2018 is required. Please visit the IRS.gov website to request a Verification of Non-filing Letter.

Notification of Financial Aid for Early Decision Applicants

For accepted early decision students, we will notify you of your financial aid award within one week of your acceptance to the College, provided that all required financial aid applications and documents have been received.

Notification of Financial Aid for Regular Decision Applicants

If you submit a complete financial aid application, the release of your financial aid award will coincide with the release of your Admissions decision.